©Louise Leakey via AP
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Have you learned about early humans and their way of life?
- Can scientists learn anything from ancient footprints?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- footprint /FOOT-print/
- analysis /uh-NAL-uh-sis /
- difference /DIF-er-uhns/
- walking style /WAW-king stile/
- in contrast /in KON-trast/
[noun] – a mark or impression left by a foot or shoe on a surface
I saw a large footprint in the sand.
[noun] – the detailed examination or study of something
The scientist did an analysis of the samples.
[noun] – the way in which two things are not the same
There is a big difference between the two cars.
[noun phrase] – the way someone walks, including posture and stride
His walking style, marked by long strides, is quick and steady.
[adverbial phrase] – used to show that two things are very different from each other
He likes tea; in contrast, she prefers coffee.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
In 2021, footprints were discovered along the shores of Lake Turkana in Kenya, providing important information about early human ancestors. These tracks, found in the Koobi Fora region, are 1.5 million years old. Researchers identified the footprints as belonging to Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, two species that lived in the Turkana Basin at the same time. The footprints were likely made in a short period, possibly within hours or days. This discovery offers a rare snapshot of ancient human behavior and movement. The proximity of the species suggests they may have interacted or lived near each other, giving scientists valuable insights into their lives. The analysis of the footprints also showed differences in the walking styles of the two species. Homo erectus walked similarly to modern humans, using a heel-to-toe stride. In contrast, Paranthropus boisei had a unique walking style with greater flexibility in the big toe. These findings help us understand how early human species adapted to their environments and evolved in different ways.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- The footprints were found in the Koobi Fora region of Kenya. (True)
- Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei lived at different times. (False)
- The analysis of the footprints showed that both species walked the same way. (False)
- The footprints are only 1 million years old. (False)
- The walking styles of Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei were different. (True)
Fill in the blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
footprint | analysis | difference | walking style | in contrast |
- Can you tell the _______ between these two pictures?
- ______, the other team played much better.
- The ______ in the mud was very clear.
- She used ______ to understand the problem better.
- The ______ of the athlete was very graceful.